CHANDIGARH, January 9: The Katia kidnapping and molestation case will have TO BE decided before April 24 following a four-month extension of the deadline by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.Meanwhile, in an affidavit submitted before UT Chief Judicial Magistrate Darshan Singh today, the Punjab Joint Secretary (Home) contended that the statement regarding the arrangement between the two countries for recording the statement of the witnesses in France, cannot be furnished by the State.
The affidavit, submitted by District Attorney Himmat Singh, expressed the State's inability to say that the expenditure of sending the seven accused, their counsel and court officials to France would be borne by them.
The CJM had earlier directed the prosecution to file an affidavit of an officer not below the rank of Deputy Secretary (Home) regarding the arrangement. He had directed the State to furnish a "clear undertaking", declaring that the expenditure would be borne by them if the commission was appointed. The case
will now come up on January 27 for further arguments on the commission's appointment and issuance of warrants for procuring Katia's presence on the same date.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
